I knew this would come up. I have planned for both at the same time. I will try to get it working this time. Past releases I tried to add this to it and it didn't fit into the code I had already written. That is why this release series has plans for that from the start. This release version is to be entirely rewritten. The final feature I plan to add is for it to be modular.
It will be accompanied by a text file of links, types, extraction location, descriptions,and if DSSS can be used to download it easier,etc.... At least those are plans. That way what it will do at first is prepare the enviroment by downloading a text file of your choice( eg a default(my website) and ability to point it to any place that is hosting a compatible text file). Then it will ask you what you want to download from the text file.

This solves the problem of me having to rewrite it each time a new DMD is out or different software has new release. Also makes it posible to have almost infinite options for what to download.

What I am realy working on is how I will do a NO NET installation with so many options. Maybe the text file will have to define a set of no net options.

Right now I have the downloader and the extractor base written(my classes to make downloading and extracting easier). I am currently planning for the modularity above. I am also figuring the fomat of the text file or if i should use xml.

Any suggestions will be considered.
Any C# code contribution will be considered.

Hmm........... creating a simple text parser is easier than I thought.

here is the format for the text file. I would like to see suggestions for supported tags. All strings prepended with $ sign is text that can be changed. // is a comment about it although the text file does not support comments.

{
// begin a new downloadable item
<nm "$name">
// name of the file to be downloaded
<ds "$description">
// description of the file can include any text
// would like to see version number and a description
// of what the project does in it although
// it will not be validated at runtime
<dl "$download location">
// where it will be downloaded from
<ud "$true/false" "$command/null">
// tells whether or not to use dsss to install
// if so automatically includes it in download
// $true/false may only be replaced with
// true or false depending on if it will be
// downloaded by dsss
// $command may be replaced by the dsss
// comand to download it
// or null if dsss is not being used
//end downloadable item
}

Hey Ciberwizz,
I know C# is not portable but this is only installing stuff the windows compatable way. After I finish FtpFolder for Tango I will work on porting this application completely to D with a lot more features than what I am currently giving. That means anyone who has access to a d compiler can have a d installer on their system. I will most likely ask a couple of people to build it on several different systems. Other than that I will make it free and the code re distributable meaning that anyone else can add on or compile a series for others to use who are using the same machine types.
I actually have found C# to be less than adequate for my needs when it is compared to D. The only reason I am using C# is that as of now I have a little code in it that would be hard to port to d without differentiating between the languages. C# may be close to D but I would like to use D language specific things to make the code a lot more either readable or compact. I will work on the D port of this soon as my Spring Break is coming up meaning that I will dedicate most of it to finishing FtpFolder for D so that I can continue work on my other projects(mainly this one as I would like to see a great installer for D written in D).

Thanks Ciberwiz
If I need help testing either version(D and C#) you will help or just the D version? If you want you can help develop the installer a little. If so just let me know and I'll put sources and stuff here and add you as a developer.
Looking forward to your feedback,
Lester L. Martin II_________________Lester L. Martin II

Ciberwizz,
I'm more of a linux guy but when it comes down to it I have this issue where I run a website for my church and it requires ASP.NET. So I can't move to linux. However I know that I like linux more because I've been through some serious Windows failures and I used linux until I could fix the failure. The other thing is that if you want we can work on the D version while I finish off the C# version which is just a let us install the newest D version and tango thing. I have never installed GDC on a linux system so lets say I can't help you there(and the same goes for DMD). It's great to know that you will keep in touch.
Lester L. Martin II

PS:
for quicker messages you can join me on an IRC chat at #d.bots on irc.freenet.org/irc.freenet.net or for that matter any other IM you would like to specify
On IRC I will be lmartin92 if actually there and lmartin92isAFK if I'm not there._________________Lester L. Martin II

Sorry,
I don't know what I was thinking. I probably had my mind elswhere when I wrote the message but its irc.freenode.org. I made a serious mispelling, sorry.
I'll be on irc starting at 10 hours from the time this post was written.
Look forward to speaking with you.